Machine for cleaning cans and the like.



, 1. 11011111111. MACHINE FOR CLEANING GANS-AND THE LIKE.

` APPLICATION FILED MAB.14,1912. 1,053,130 Y Patented Feb.11,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. MORRAL.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING GANS AND THB LIKE. APPLIGA'TION FILED 11.111.1411912.

1,053,130, Patented Feb.11,1913.

1 (Y) 5 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

/ f P W7-7001 fr 13 J. MORRAL.

MACHINE FOR-CLEANING GANS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED 111111.14, 1912.

1,958, 1 30. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

HMMH l MHA# J. MORRAL.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING CANS AND THE LIKE. I

APPLICATION FILED 111111.14,1912.

` 1,058,130. Patented Feb.11,'1913` 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. J. MORRAL. MACHINE PoR cLEANuG cANs AND THF. LIKE.

lkPPLIGATIOH FILED 1111.11.14, 1912. y

1.053,130. 'Patented Feb. 11, 1913;4

s SHEETS-snm' es.l

iiNi-'rnn srn'rns trarnnr orrion.v

JoHN'MommL, or LAnUE, omo, 'AssIeNoa or ONE-SIXTH To MILroNMonRAL, ONE- SIXTE TO WILLIAM DRAKE, AND ONE-SIXTH T MAURICE C. CLEMENTS, ALL OF LABUE, OHIO.

specification of Letters'ratent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed March 14, 1912. SerialNo. 683,841.

, To' all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Monnier., a citizen of the Unite States, residing at Larue,

in the county of arion and State of Ohio have invented cert-ain" new and useful Improvements. in Machines4 for Cleaning Cans andthe Like, of which the following is a specification, reference being )had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in can cleaning machines and more particularly to a machine for cleaning the outside of the can, after being filled and previous to labeling and my object is to provide a device of this character which will effectively and positivelyremove all dirt, rust, and the like from the bodies and lthe heads or ends of the cans.

A further object `of the invention is to providea'l brushing means to remove dirt and the like from the cans as the same are passed th ough the machine and another object is o provide means for conduct-ing the cans through the machine, and retaining the same in contact with said brushing means.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly 'pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the 'accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the same, as seen on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section as seenl on line 4 4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an additional transverse section as seen on line 5 5, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a s' e elevation of the machine opposed to that disclosed in Fig. 1.

In carryingout my invention, I shall refer to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in Whichl l indicates the bed or main frame of the machine carried on the supporting legs 2, said frame having rotatably mounted at they one ,end thereof, a transverse shaft 3, which carries thereon the sprocket 4 and an additional shaft v5 is rigidly carried on the opposite end of'said main frame 1 having rotatably mounted thereon an additional sprocket 6 in aline'ment with the sprocket 4. Extending over these sprockets 4 and 6 is an endless chain arrier 7, the reaches of which extend above and below the lmain frame 1, said carrier being provided with a l plurality of rollers 8, which are spaced at regular intervals throughoutthe length thereof, forming means by which articles may be carried with the carrier andin order to retain the upper reach of the carrier taut,-

I provide a sprocket' 9, which engages the links ofthe lower reach of the carrier.v This sprocket is carried on one e'nd of a Ushaped brackety 10 which has slidably disposed through the intermediate portion thereof the rod 10 and encircling said rod between the free end thereof and said intermediate ortion of the bracket is a coil springll. he opposite end of this rod 10 is engaged with one of the transverse bars connecting the pairs of supporting. legs 2 and from this,V

construction it will be seen that all slack in the carrier 7 will be taken up by the means described. This carrier 7 extends centrally and longitudinally of the main frame 1 and also extending longitudinally of the frame 1, on opposite sides of the upper reach of the carrier 7 are the longitudinal brushes 13 which are securely held in said frame 1 and have the wire bristles thereof disposedupwardly to extend above the -links of said carrier 7. The carrier 7, as the same is operated, is adapted to receive in the s aces between the rollers 8, cans from a fee trough or chute 14, which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 5, Yat the one end of said frame 1 and held in anwinclined position, as shown in Fig. l, by means of a supporting rod 15. These cans are fed by Yhand tp this chute or trough 14, the lowermost can, that is the one nearest the frame 1, being adapted to be engaged by a roller on the carrier 7, as the latter'is operated, whereby the can will be carried on with the carrier'and in order to prevent the downward rush of cans on the chute 14, after the lowermost one has been removed, the retaining mechanism 16 is provided on the chute. Thisreta'inin mechanism is merely spring held and su icient to retain the cans from rolling downwardly by gravity but. under pressure by the operator the action of this retaining mechanism will guidethe same the length of the longitudi- Y adapted to be held in contact with the cans,`

between which is rotata ly mounted a shaft provided With a pulley 21, While an additional pair of supporting brackets 22 is simipulleys 34, Wit

be overcome and the lowermost can again placed in position to be received by the next' roller of 'the carrier. l From this construction, above described, it Will be seen that as the cans are removed, one by one, from the feed trough 14, as the carrier is rotated, the same will be conducted over ther Wire brushes 13, which extend for a considerable length of the frame 1. The guide rails 17 are provided `and carried on the angular brackets 18, which are secured to the frame 1, said brackets being adjustably mounted thereon in order to space these guide rails 17 any distance desired and as said rails may be spaced the exact or substantially the eXact length of the cans bein cleaned, it Will be seen that the same Wil readily receive said cans therebetween and nal brushes 13.

Mounted on the sides of the frame 1, aty the end thereof at which the feed trough `/is disposed, is a pair of su porting brackets 19,

20, said shaft being capable of vertical adjstment with respect to the brackets 19 and larly mounted at the opposite ends of the sides of said frame 1, having rotatably mounted therebetween an additional transverse shaft 23, said latter shaft being also capable of vertical movement with respect to the brackets 22 and having mounted thereon an additional pulley 24. These pulleys 21 and 24 are disposed in longitudinal alinement and have extending thereover, an endless belt 25, the lower reach of Which is as lthe same are assed over the brushes 13 by' means of a p urality of rollers 26, said rollers being adjustably carried on a bar 27 extendin 4longitudinally of the frame and carried a ove the brushes 13, by means of the supporting arms 28. As stated, the lower reach of the belt 25 is adapted to be forced into contact with the cans, as the same are passed over the brushes 13 by` means of these rollers 26, said rollers being adjustable and held by means of the coil springs 29, the purposel of this belt 25 being to cause said cans to be revolved .as the same are carried over these brushes.' ln order to cause this belt 25 to travel at a greater rate of speed than the carrier 7, vthe shaft 23 is provided vvith an enlarged sprocket 30, over Which extends a chain 31, said chain 31 also passing overa small sprocket 32, carried on a main drive shaft 33. This main drive shaft 33 is rotatably suspended -from the main frame 1 adjacent the end thereof op# posits that having the feed trough thereon, the same havin mounted thereon the drive which may be connected elts from anysource of. power (not shown) and the shaft has |.carried theredn, at the end opposite that carrying the sprocket 30,

a-n additional but smaller sprocket 35,. This latter sprocket 35 is engaged by an endless chain 36, Which also extends over an en,-

larged sprocket 37, which is carried on the shaft 3 and from this construction it Will be seen that as the shaft 23 is caused to rotate,

said shaft 3 will also be rotated therewith,

but in view of the particular form of gear-A ing used, saidshaft 23 Will be rotated at a-.;

carrier Will be caused to revolve as the same are carried over the longitudinal brushes 18, whereby all rust, dirt, andthe like on the body of the cans 'Will be removed. The space betweenthe brushes 13, which is taken up by the links of the carrier 7, Will, of course, permit a space on each canto remain uncleaned, but as this space is usually covered by the label which is applied later, it will be appreciated that the remaining. of this unclassified space is in no Way detrimental.

From' the foregoing description it will be understood that the bodies yof the cans will' be readily cleaned upon the" operation of the carrier, but I have also provided means for (the cleaning of the ends or `heads of the cans and to this end I provide a pluralit of disk brushes 38, arranged in pairs on t e ppp'osite sides of the carrier 7, said brushes being disposed adjacent the one end of the framel just beyond the ends of the longitudinal brushes 13. These disk brushes 38 are carried on the inner ends of the transverse shafts 39, which are rotatably supported'in bearings 40, mounted on the frame 1, the outer ends of said shafts 39 having mounted thereon the sprockets 41, over Which extend the endless chains 42 and additional sprockets 43 carried on the main drive shaft`33 also have extending .thereover, the chain 42,

whereby as said main shaft is rotated, the stub shafts 39 will be caused to rotate: and correspondingly rotate the disk brushes 38. rlhe disks 38 are so disposed on the shafts 39 as to position the bristles thereof inwardl the cans carried on the upper reach of the` llt".

so as to contact with the ends or heads of the cans, as the same pass `therebetween and one pair of said disk brushes, thatis, the pair which is disposed on the side of the frame nearest the observer in Fig. 1, is slida'bly arranged on the respective'shafts 39. The shafts carrying the last referred to pair of brushes have encircling ythe same, coil springs 44, Which so act on said pair of disk brushes as to force the same normally inwardly and from this construction it Will be appreciated that the'pairs of disk brushes may readily yield laterally with respect to one another to accommodate cansl of various lengths, but which brushes will always be in position to enga-ge the ends or heads of said cans. Y

From this construction it will be seen that after the cans have been conducted over the longitudinal-'brushes 13, by the carrier 7, the same will bemoved past the disk brushes 38, which latter'brushes are caused 'to rotate simultaneously. with the operationy of- Vthe carrier, wherebyl the ends of' the cans will be cleaned, as well as the body portions thereof and as each can on the carrier is brought to the rear end of the frame `1, the same is thrown on the delivery chute 45. While I have not so shown the same, an elevator of any, desired form may be provided in connection with this chute to conduct the cleaned cans to any other device, such asa labeling machine (not shown) but in the drawings it will be n oted that I have pro.- vided a pairv of longitudinal bars or rods 46 which are adjustabl'y supported above the chute 45 and under which the cans are adapted to `be received after being deposited. on the chute from the carrier. As each can is thrown on the chute 45, it will be appreciated that the uppermost can in the row will be forced from the chute 45 andthe remaining cans will be prevented from roll- .ing downwardly on the chute by means of these retaining bars 46. From the foregoingvitwill be seen that l have. provided a simple, inexpensive and eliicient devicel for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have-particularlyA described the elements most well adapted to perform the functions set `forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minorv details of-construction may be resorted to without departing from they 'spirit or sacrificing any ofthe principles of the invention.

It must be here 'stated that the stud shafts 39 upon which the disk brushes 38 are carried, are tubular, asvparticularly shown'in Fig. 5 of the drawings, whereby any form of liquid such as oil or water may be supplied therethrough to the brushes, for obvious purposes. Y*

' Having thus described my invention, what Iclaimis:

1. A device ofthe class described comprising a main frame, a pair of llongitudinal brushes secured within said frame and spaced one from the other, pairs of rotatable brushes also carried' by said frame and spaced from one another'in alinement with the aforesaid brushes, an endless carrier extending through the space between said brushes, andmeans to cause. articles on the fcarrier to be revolved as the same are conducted over and through said brushes.

2. A device of the class described comprising a lmain frame, a plurality of spaced r the same are carried over the brushes4 endless brushes carried thereon, an endless carrier disposed in the space between said brushes, said carrier being provided with a plurality of rollers disposed at regular intervals throughout the length thereof, the spaces between said rollers being adaptedto receive cans to conduct the-same over said brushes, andfneans adapted to coperate with said rollers to cause the cansto be revolved as 3. A device of the class described compris ing a framers-plurality of brushes carriedV thereon and spaced one from the other, an carrier disposed between said brushes,- a feed trough carried by the main lframe through which said carrier also eX- tends, said carrier being provided with a plurality of rollers spaced at 'regular intervals throughout the length thereof and adapted` to receive therebetween articles from the feed trough, and means adapted to cooperate with said rollers to cause the artisul cls therebetween to be revolved as the same are conducted over the brushes.

4.. A device of the class described comprising a frame,- a pair of longitudinal brushes adjustably secured therewithin and spaced yone from the other, pairs of disk brushes rotatably mounted on said frame, andA also spaced from one another, certain of said latter brushes being yieldingly supported in position, and means to conduct a plurality :of cans over said longitudinal brushes and between said rotatable brushes.

5. A device of the class described comprising a main frame, a pair of spaced longitui' dinal brushes mounted therewithin, pairs of rotatable brushes disposed in substantial alinement with said longitudinal brushes, one pairbf said brushes being yieldingly supported in position, means whereby a fluid may be supplied to said rotatable brushes,

and means to conduct articles over said longitudinal brushes and between said rotatable brushes.

6. A device of the class described comprising a main frame, a pair of longitudinal brushes adjustably secured therewithin and spaced in alinement with one another, pairs of rotatable brushes mounted within said frame in alinement with said longitudinal brushes, one pair of said brushes being yieldingly supported in position, an endless carrier operatively mounted on said frame and disposed in the space between said brushes, and guide rails adjustably mounted in the frame above the longitudinal brushes, said guide rails being adapted to receive therebetween the articles conducted over the brushes by the conveyer.

'7. A .device oiE the class described comprising a main frame, longitudinal brushes spaced one from the other, pairs of rotatable brushes mounted in the frame in alinement with said longitudinal brushes, an endless conveyermounted on said frame and eX tending in the space between said brushes, an endless belt supported above sald Convveyer, said belt being adapted to contact with articles conveyed through the frame by Vthe conveyer, andmeans to rotate said'conthe other, rotatable brushes carried on said frame in alinement With said longitudinal brushes, an endless conveye Imounted on the frame and disposed between vsaid brushes, anendless belt supported on the frame above said conve 7er, means to retain said belt in contact Wit articles conducted through the frame by the conveyer, and means to rotate said conveyer and belt.

9. A device of the class described comprising a main frame, longitudinal brushes mounted therewithin. and .spaced one from the other, pairs of rotatable brushes mounted on said frame in alinement with said longitudinal brushes7 an endless conveyer carried on the frame and extending between said brushes, means on the frame to guide the articles conducted over the longitudinal brushes by the conveyer, an endless belt supported on the frame above said conveyer, yieldingly supported means to force one reach of the belt in Contact With the articles conducted through the frame by said conveyer, and means to rotate said belt and conveyer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN MOR-RAL.

J. G. SPARKS. 

